What safety regulations apply to U.S. amusement rides?
Amusement ride safety in the United States is regulated through a patchwork of voluntary standards and federal, state, and local laws. overview of state regulations • As of 2008, 28 states had government officials with ride safety training and some kind of significant oversight authority. 16 states rely on insurance companies or 3rd party inspectors to audit industry compliance with safety standards and regulations. • The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission monitors the safety of portable amusement rides, investigates serious accidents, and works with manufacturers to correct defects or hazards. Rides at amusement parks and water parks are exempt from all federal safety oversight. • There are no mandatory national safety standards for amusement rides. The industry has developed an extensive suite of voluntary safety standards for amusement rides through the ASTM F-24 committee. Most of the states that regulate ride safety make reference to the ASTM standards.
